Sarasota Opera Announces 2019 Season For Opera and Classic Movies Series

Sarasota Opera is pleased to announce the lineup for the 2019 season of "HD at the Opera House" and "Classic Movies at the Opera House." The "HD at the Opera House" series will open on Sunday, May 19th and run through October 6th. The series will include presentations of Opera and Ballet from some of the world's most famous venues and companies including the Royal Opera House, Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Semper Opera in Dresden, and the Royal Ballet. Each presentation will begin at 1:30pm. The "Classic Movies at the Opera House" will begin Friday, May 31st, and will feature timeless films shown on the big screen in the historic Opera House. Classic Movies will start at 7:30pm. Refreshments will be available to enjoy in the theater for all movie events.

HD at the Opera House

Sunday, May 19th at 1:30pm

La forza del destino

Giuseppe Verdi's sweepingly ambitious opera about war, religion, love and fate is given a cinematic staging by Christof Loy. From the Royal Opera House, London, starring Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, and Ludovic Tézier; conducted by Antonio Pappano.

Sunday, June 2nd at 1:30pm

Mayerling

Dangerous desires, family secrets and political intrigues twist through every moment of daring choreography in Kenneth MacMillan's ballet inspired by true events. Music by Franz Liszt. Performance by the Royal Ballet, London.

Sunday, June 16th at 1:30pm

Faust

Experience the elegance and decadence of 1870s Paris in David McVicar's spectacular production of Charles Gounod's best-loved opera. From the Royal Opera House, London, starring Michael Fabiano, Diana Damrau and Erwin Schrott; conducted by Dan Ettinger.

Sunday, June 30th at 1:30pm

Within the Golden Hour / New Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui / Flight Pattern

The contemporary face of The Royal Ballet, London, in revivals of works by Wheeldon and Pite and a world premiere by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.

Sunday, July 14th at 1:30pm

The Merry Widow

From the Semperoper Dresden, The Merry Widow tells the story of a wealthy widow in search of a new husband. The work was a major success for its composer Franz Lehár. Starring Petra Maria Schnitzer and Bo Skovhus, conducted by Manfred Honeck.

Sunday, July 28th at 1:30pm

Romeo and Juliet

Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers encounter passion and tragedy in Kenneth MacMillan's 20th-century ballet masterpiece. Music by Sergey Prokofiev, performance by the Royal Ballet, London.

Sunday, August 11th at 1:30pm

La Gioconda

Set in 17th-century Venice, this emblematic work from the period between Verdi's heyday and the dawn of Verismo is the best known of Amilcare Ponchielli's operas. Production from Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, starring Saioa Hernández, Dolora Zajick, Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, and Brian Jagde; conducted by Guillermo García Calvo.

Sunday, August 25th at 1:30pm

Die Walküre

Antonio Pappano conducts a great cast including Stuart Skelton, Emily Magee, John Lundgren and Nina Stemme in the second opera in Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen. Production from the Royal Opera, London.

Sunday, September 8th at 1:30pm

The Nutcracker

A treat for the whole family and a classic with a special place in the hearts of ballet fans around the world. Choreographed by Peter Wright, with music by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky. Performance by the Royal Ballet, London.

Sunday, September 22nd at 1:30pm

La traviata

Richard Eyre's stunning production of Verdi's best-loved opera returns with star soprano Ermonela Jaho as Violetta; the casts also include Plácido Domingo and Charles Castronovo; conducted by Antonello Manacorda. Production from the Royal Opera, London.

Sunday, October 6th at 1:30pm

La Bayadère

Natalia Makarova's production of this 19th-century classic ballet brings an exotic world of temple dancers and noble warriors to life. Music by Czech composer Ludwig Minkus, whose music is amongst the most performed in all of ballet. Performance by the Royal Ballet, London.

Tickets to "HD at the Opera House" are $20 for single ticket buyers and $18 for current Sarasota Opera subscribers. All seating is general admission. Information and tickets can be found online at SarasotaOpera.org or by calling (941) 328-1300. You can also visit the Sarasota Opera Box Office at 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236. (Sarasota Opera Subscribers who wish to receive the 10% discount of HD at the Opera House tickets must contact the Sarasota Opera Box Office directly)

Classic Movies at the Opera House

Friday, May 31st at 7:30pm

Doctor Zhivago (1965. Runtime 200 minutes)

Married physician-poet Yuri Zhivago falls in love with alluring Lara during the Russian Revolution in this Best Picture nominee that's based on the novel by Boris Pasternak. (101 minutes) Starring: Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Rod Steiger; Directed by David Lean.

Friday, June 28th at 7:30pm

An American in Paris (1951. Runtime 115 minutes)

When ex-GI Jerry Mulligan remains in Paris to pursue life as an artist, he is discovered by a wealthy patroness interested in more than his art. But Mulligan falls in love with a French shop girl who is engaged to his best friend. Starring Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant; Directed by Vincent Minelli.

Friday, July 12th at 7:30pm

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967. Runtime 108 minutes)

A rich couple's liberal views are put to the test when their daughter brings home a black man as her fiancé. Starring: Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier, Katherine Hepburn; Directed by Stanley Kramer.

Friday, July 26th at 7:30pm

Rear Window (1954. Runtime 112 minutes)

A laid-up magazine photographer witnesses a possible murder from his apartment window. Starring: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Thelma Ritter; Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Friday, August 9th at 7:30pm

Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961. Runtime 115 minutes)

A Manhattan sophisticate escorts wealthy men, accepting gifts and money but not their affections: she has commitment issues. Starring: Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal; Directed by Blake Edwards.

Friday, August 23rd at 7:30pm

Key Largo (1948. Runtime 101 minutes)

A war-weary WWII vet is forced into a confrontation with a sadistic mobster holding hostages at a Florida hotel during a hurricane. Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Lionel Barrymore; Directed by John Huston.

Friday, September 6th at 7:30pm

Young Frankenstein (1974. Runtime 106 minutes)

Drawn to his late grandfather's Transylvanian castle, young Dr. Frankenstein learns how to bring a corpse to life. But soon, his "monster" creation is looking for love in hilarious places! Starring: Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman, Madeleine Kahn; Directed by Mel Brooks.

Tickets to "Classic Movies at the Opera House" are $12 for single ticket buyers. All seating is general admission. Information and tickets can be found online at SarasotaOpera.org or by calling (941) 328-1300. You can also visit the Sarasota Opera Box Office at 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236.